Martha Anna Janey

Martha was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on February 25, 1955 to Marvin Obermeyer and Dolores Obermeyer (née O’Neill). She had five siblings: a sister Barb and brothers Geoff, Tim, Doug and Andrew. Her family moved to New Jersey when Martha was five years old. Martha identified strongly as a Jersey girl for the rest of her life, especially when playing thumb war. When she was 16 years old and in high school at Sterling High School, Martha’s family moved to Colorado. Martha completed high school at Bear Creek High School in Colorado and started college at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado. In Colorado, Martha enjoyed many mountain adventures with friends, rafting, skiing, hiking and road tripping. As a young adult Martha was also an accomplished field hockey and softball player. She completed college at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, earning a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Education.

In Naperville, Martha met her first husband, Richard Stokes, with whom she welcomed four children: Casie Stokes, Jennifer Jumonville, Eliott Stokes and John-Thomas (J.T.) Stokes. The family spent time in Burlington, Iowa, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Duncanville, Texas. As a child, Martha wanted to become a traveling airline stewardess or a nun, and she fulfilled these traveling and ministry ambitions when she joined Richard in the Lutheran missionary service in West Africa for six years. She befriended interesting people from all over the world, learning to speak French. She embraced the many challenges of mission work and learning to live in another country. In 1993 the family returned to Iowa where Martha continued her vocation as a mother, homemaker, and substitute teacher until her divorce from Richard in 1996.

Martha married Ed Janey in 1997, and they welcomed daughter Elizabeth Janey. In a mid-life career change, Martha pursued her dream of becoming a nurse. In 2012 Martha earned an Associates of Applied Science Degree and a Licensed Practical Nursing Certificate. She was proud, at the time of her death, to have had a career of over ten years providing excellent care to various populations, including caring for the elderly in assisted living and home health settings. When Martha’s marriage to Ed ended, Martha continued to enjoy the beautiful green landscapes of Iowa that she loved, and lived there until February 2023, when she moved to New Orleans to be near her daughter, Jennifer.

Martha was a strong believer in Jesus Christ. She talked about her faith frequently and hoped to inspire others to become followers of Christ. Her faith saw her through many difficult times. She was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church, and at the time of her passing of St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Orleans.

Martha was extremely proud of the accomplishments of her children, including the military service of JT (Marines) and Eliott (Air Force) and her daughters’ educational accomplishments. She was a huge supporter of her children and grandchildren, and gave selflessly to them all. She spent as much time as possible traveling to be with them, traveling across the country to do so.

On these visits, Martha was always up for an adventure. She recently went to her first Dragon-Con with her son Eliott’s family. She joined her daughter Elizabeth for RAGBRAI in Iowa, spending the night in a tent. She watched the sunset with her son J.T. and his wife Morgan at Amicalolo Falls State Park. She loved to cook and bake, especially at the holidays. Her potato salad was a mainstay at all family barbecues, and her last Christmas included a flurry of baking a selection of Christmas cookies with her daughter Jennifer. She returned to Colorado for visits and trail walks with her daughter, Casie. Martha kept an open heart and mind for the thoughts and feelings of her children as they grew. She never stopped teaching them, and she was also open to growing and learning from them.

Martha always kept a small but close group of friends around her, and those near and dear to her heart sent her many messages of support in her last weeks mentioning her easy laugh, beautiful smile, warm hugs, and strength. She was known as a hard worker with a no-nonsense attitude, but also a good listener and kind friend who generously shared her wisdom and support.

Martha kept her own counsel, except when she didn’t, and her cheeky side shone through. She never lost her sense of playfulness and humor, which sometimes included drumming up a little drama. She enjoyed a good long talk with family and friends and hearing everyone’s latest news.

Martha is preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Dolores, and by her brother Tim. She is survived by her daughters Casie (and husband Matt), Jennifer (and husband Cooper), and Elizabeth, her sons Eliott (and wife Erin) and J.T. (and wife Morgan), her sister Barb, and her brothers Geoff, Doug, and Andrew. She is also survived by her seven grandchildren, whom she loved dearly: Lily Shorey, Eva Fitzgerald, Benjamin Fitzgerald, Josephine Jumonville, David Jumonville, Jackson Migliaccio Stokes and Indigo Stokes.

A few weeks before Martha passed she dreamed she was a little girl sitting next to her dad in church. Martha passed from this world sure in the knowledge of her salvation and that she would be reunited with her loved ones in Heaven.

A visitation for Martha will be held Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124, followed by a funeral service from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM.